Method of applying desings to fabrics



15, 1935- R. H. BURGDORFER ET AL 1,987,593

METHOD OF APPLYING DESIGNS TO FABRICS Filed May '7, 1954 Hardy-1INVENTORS Pena MEL/r do 6/ Q Frank .4 en re f x/ 58,0 H. La endeckerPatented Jan. 15, 1935 UNITED STATES METHOD 0F APPLYING DESIGNS TOFABRICS Ren n'. Bnrgdorfer, Frank L.

Joseph A. sisnors to dorfer, and Frank L.

Hendren, and

Leyendecker, Kansas City, Mo., as- Clarence H. Richter, Rene H. Burg-Hendren, a partnership,

doing business as Stentite Application May 7, 1934, Serial No. 724,452

7 Claims.

Our invention relates to a method of applying designs to fabrics andmore particularly to a novel and improved method of stenciling uponsilks, linens, and other fabric materials.

In applying designs with stencils the methods known to the prior art arelimited to the application of designs to non-porous or absorbentmaterials. If it is attempted to stencil fabrics, it will be found thatthe paints will run and be absorbed by the fabric so that a clear cutdesign is not obtained. One method of the prior art, known as the silkscreen" process enables designs to be applied to fabrics by means of aspecially constructed stencil in which the paints will not run. Thedesigns made by the silk screen process are fiat. In our process, thedesigns may be applied so that the letters have a definite andappreciable thickness, giving the appearance of an embossed design. Inthe silk screen process, .the paint must be applied by hand in any ofthe usual manners. If it is attempted to spray the paint, the force ofthe air spray will cause a separation of the silk screen from the fabricupon which the design is being placed, causing colors to run andblurring the design. In the silk screen method, a special screenmaterial is necessary and considerable cost and labor are required tomake the screen prior to applying the design.

One object of our inventionis to provide an economical and rapid methodof applying designs to fabrics such as silks and the like, includingloosely woven fabrics.

Another object 'of our invention'is to provide a method of applyingembossed designs to fabrics.

A further object of our invention is to provide a method of applyingdesigns to fabrics in which the color may be sprayed on.

Another object of our invention is to provide a'method of stencilingdesigns on fabrics which will produce a clear cut, sharp design.

Other and further objects of our invention will appear from thefollowing description.

In the accompanying drawing, Figure 1 is a view of a piece of fabricwith a stencil sheet thereon having one corner thereof lifted.

Figure 2 is an enlarged sectional view, taken on a line 2-2 of Figure 1,showing the stencil in place before a high viscosity paint is applied.

Figure 3 is a sectional view similar to Figure 2. after the highviscosity paint has been applied V and the stencil removed.

In general, our invention contemplates forming a stencil and applying toone side thereof an adhesive having preferential adhesion for thestencil material. The stencil is stuck to the fabric upon which-thedesign is to be placed by pressure, rolling, or in any other suitablemanner. The fabric will then closely adhere to the stencil. The adhesivesubstance is such that it is repellant to the paint to be applied. Thepaint is of sufliciently high viscosity so that it will act as a,filler, thus preventing it from being adsorbed and penetrating thefabric. The paint may be sprayed on, inasmuch as the adhesive substancewill prevent the stencil sheets from being lifted and allowing paint topass thereunder. Any number of coats may be applied in succession. Whenthe design dries, it has the appearance of an embossed design.

More particularly, we coat one side of stencil paper 1, which may be ofany suitable sort, or any other suitable stencil material which may bereadily cut into stencils, with an adhesive 2. This adhesive may bebeeswax, candelilla wax, bayberry wax, Montan wax, and the like. Thesewaxes are such that at ordinary temperatures, they are tacky. Applied tothe stencil paper, they adhere closely thereto. One method of applyingthe wax is to heat it until it is liquid and then, 25

apply it with a brush. Any desired design is then I f drawn upon thestencil material and the'stencil is cut in a manner well known to the'art. The

fabric 3, which may be loosely woven silk, cotton. or the like, uponwhich ordinary stencils cannot be used without permitting the color torun underneath the stencil, is then placed upon a hard smooth surface.The stencil; with the adhesive substance applied thereto, is placed onthe fabric and pressed or rolled, or otherwise firmly stuck to thefabric. The adhesion is such that, when the stencil is removed, none ofthe wax will stick to the fabric and no trace is left of the wax uponthe fabric. This is what we mean by an adhesive having preferentialadhesion for the stencil material. It will be obvious that,, if thestencil were removed and the wax were left upon the fabric thatgood'results would not be obtained, as the fabric would be disfigured.The waxes above mentioned, furthermore, are paint repellant.

The fabric is then ready for the application of the paint 4. Ordinarypaints cannot be used to give the effect we desire, that is an embosseddesign. We employ for this purpose a paint of high viscosity. This paintis prepared with a base consisting of a drying or semi-drying oilthickened with a metallic soap. For example, we may use such drying oilsas perilla oil, linseed oil, tung oil, hemp oil, and the like, or suchsemiand other well known metallic soaps.

the stencil. We prefer the spray inasmuch as this forms a rapid methodof applying the color and the results are more uniform. This ability toapply the paint by spraying, with our method constitutes a majoradvantage over the stenciling methods of the prior art in applyingstencils to fabrics. After one coat has been applied, a drying period offrom five to ten minutesis permitted and a second coat is applied.Successive coats of high viscosity paint soon build up a thickness of 35 of an inch or more. After the high viscosity paint has been appliedand permitted to dry for a period, any other suitable paint may beapplied inasmuch as the high viscosity base acts as a filler so that thesecond application of paint need not be a high viscosity paint. It maybe a lacquer or a varnish if it be desired to impart a glossy finish;

- If the design is to be placed upon a colored fabric and it is notdesired that the back of the fabric show the design in reverse, a colorsimilar to the color of the fabric may be applied to the base and thefirst application be made of the paint, similarly colored, to thefabric. The successive layers of paint may be of any desired color. Wemay dust the design with a metallic dust or comminuted tinsel, or thelike, before the final coat is dry, if we wish the design to have aglittering finish.

After the final coat of paint has been applied, the stencil is removedand the design is allowed to dry. The result is a design of embossed orraised appearance which is firmly secured 'to the fabric. After a periodof drying, the design will be weather proof and may be washed andironed, provided the color in the fabric is fast.

It will be observed that we have accomplished the objects of ourinvention. We have provided a novel, facile, rapid, and efficient methodof applying designs to fabrics. Due to the fact that the stencil willadhere to.the fabric, it is not necessary to form a stencil in the usualmanner, that is, with supports andbraces, inasmuch as the stenciledparts will be held in position by the fabric itself. Due to the factthat the stencil will adhere to thefabric, we -may use an air spray-forapplying paint, without the danger of lifting the stencil and permittingthe paint to pass thereunder.

The adhesive material is repellant to the paint and is such that it haspreferential adhesion for the stencil material. when the stencil islifted, none of the adhesive will stick to the fabric.

The design is extremely clear cut and the stencil material need not beof any special character, enabling the design to be applied more cheaplyand, at the same time, giving a distinctive embossed appearance.

It will be understood that certain features and sub-combinations are ofutility and may be employed without reference to other features andsub-combinations. This is contemplated by and is within the scope of ourclaims. It is further obvious that various changes may be made indetails within the scope of our claims without departing from the spiritof our invention. It is, therefore, to be understood that our inventionis not to be limited to the specific details shown'and described. Theadhesive. material, for example, need not be wax, but may be anysuitable tacky material enabling our process to be carried out.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim is:

1. A method of applying designs on fabric including the steps ofsticking a stencil .to a fabric and applying a high viscosity paint,whereby lateral migration of the paint is precluded.

2. A method of applying embossed designs on fabric including the stepsof sticking a stencil to the fabric with an adhesive havingpreferentional adhesion for the stencil material and applying a highviscosity paint in successive steps with intermediate steps of drying.

3. A method of stenciling designs on fabric including the steps ofsecuring a stencil to a fabric by an adhesive and applying a painthaving a high viscosity base, a pigment and insufficient oil content tostain fabrics at the edges of the designs.

- 4. A method of stenciling designs on fabric including the steps ofsecuring a stencil to fabric with-a wax having preferential adhesion forthe stencil and spraying a high viscosity paint.

5. A method of stenciling designs on fabric including the steps ofcoating a stencil with an adhesive having preferential adhesion for thestencil, pressing the coated stencil to the fabric and applying a highviscosity paint.

6. A method as in claim 5 wherein the fabric is colored and a paint ofthe same color as the fabric is employed in the first paint applyingstep.

7. A method as in claim 5 wherein the paint applied-by spraying.

' RENE H. BURGDORFER.

FRANK L. HENDREN. JOSEPH A. LEYENDECKER.

